Experts know the value of ‘Awesome Kim’ defense…Kim Ha-Sung named BA’s top second baseman

Apparently, batting average and home run numbers don’t capture the value of Ha-Sung Kim (28, San Diego Padres). Kim was voted the best second baseman in the National League by Major League Baseball (MLB) officials.메이저사이트

Baseball America (BA), the leading scouting publication in the U.S., today (July 7) announced the players with the best tools, as voted on by MLB managers, scouts, and officials. Tools is a term that organizes a baseball player’s skills and talents into categories. For hitters, it’s divided into hitting, power, baserunning, defense, and throwing.

Among them, Kim Ha-Sung topped the list for defense at second base in the National League. He beat out some of the best second basemen in the game, including Nico Horner (Chicago Cubs) and Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves).

Kim, who signed with the San Diego Padres via the posting process in 2021, has evolved both offensively and defensively in his third year in the MLB, solidifying himself as a starting center fielder. His offense has been outstanding, with 17 home runs and 31 doubles, but his defense is among the best in the game. Last year, he was already among the top three finalists for the National League Gold Glove shortstop award, and this year, he’s moved to second base and is one of the favorites to win the Gold Glove.

Kim’s defensive prowess, as seen by the experts, is reflected in his numbers. In OAA (Outstanding Runs Above Average), which is based on batted ball data, Kim ranks eighth in the league at +5 (where 0 is league average). In DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), he ranks fifth overall among second basemen (+8).

The competitiveness is there. All that’s left is results. If he wins the Gold Glove, which he was only a finalist for last year, he will become the first Asian infielder to do so. Outfielders are already legendary, with Ichiro Suzuki winning the award 10 years in a row from 2001 to 2010, but no infielder has done it yet. As such, there was a preconceived notion among fans that Asian infielders couldn’t do it, but Kim is proving them wrong.